At The Refinishing Touch, we always take the time to connect with our industry peers across the government, hospitality and higher education sectors. Below, Jenna Ide of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance of Massachusetts provides us with an inside look at how the organization is making the state’s government buildings and numerous college campuses more sustainable.

The state government is the largest energy user in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. At the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance (DCAMM), we have the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings Group – or the ‘E-Team’ – to make sure we are doing all we can to reduce energy consumption and ensure that Massachusetts’ facilities are as efficient and sustainable as possible.

The E-team is committed to improving the operation of the Commonwealth’s buildings and capital assets, both existing and new. We value efficiency, innovation, strategic planning, and results.

As with any environmental venture, taking an idea to the point of construction is vital but often difficult. Thus, the primary work of our team is to ensure energy, water, and renewable projects at state facilities are completed. We coordinate the appropriate parties, manage the production of audits and schematic designs, develop contracts with our legal team, create financial plans for each project, and procure projects. We also manage the utility programs on behalf of the Commonwealth agencies, and coordinate energy related grants across the Commonwealth.

As part of our mission, the E-Team is spearheading the Massachusetts Accelerated Energy Program (AEP). AEP will reduce energy consumption within 700 state sites representing more than 4,000 buildings and 58 million square feet. We’re looking forward to the results – AEP will create about 4,000 clean energy jobs and save the Commonwealth an estimated $43 million annually.

Recently, our team completed one of the first AEP projects at Northern Essex Community College. The project included updating an antiquated heating system and upgrades to lighting, energy management controls, hot water heaters, and other measures. The project cost around $6 million, and will save the college over $350,000 annually while reducing greenhouse gases by 28 percent.

As professionals in the building industry, we recognize the importance of LEED ratings. The state has adopted a Massachusetts LEED Plus green building standard that requires energy performance of 20 percent or better than the Massachusetts Energy Code. This means that all new construction and major renovations are held to the highest green standards.

To help facilities achieve these standards, we work with our partners and consultants to look at all feasible measures. When we see an obstacle to implementing a good energy or water technology, we work to see if we can find the resources to solve the problem. We always aim for as much efficiency savings as we can. One challenge is that Massachusetts colleges and universities are growing, so we need to find creative ways to decrease energy use while serving more students.

One of our newest initiatives is called Toward Zero Net Energy, where we are working within facilities to create a building producing more energy than its using.

Maintaining Massachusetts’ status as a leader in energy requires collaboration across state agencies, facility managers and even occupants. This collaboration is important because the benefits of these initiatives like cost savings and reducing pollution, are far reaching and shared by all parties. Every agency we work with is consistently finding ways to save money and improve their facility. It’s also great to see that higher education facilities are embracing the opportunity to integrate these projects into their overall curriculum and educational objectives.

Harvard University, one of the most recognized institutions for higher education, has released its first campus-wide Sustainability Impact Report. The Report includes an interactive website that contains data on a slew of different efforts that can make the entire university more environmentally-friendly.

As Harvard Magazine reports, the data includes information on energy and emissions, transportation, health and wellness, water use, recycling, and more. Heather Henriksen, director of the Office of Sustainability, is quoted as saying, “[Harvard is] trying to be very transparent and use an online platform to encourage our community to have an honest and open conversation about the challenges we face in implementing Harvard’s sustainability goals, so we can develop solutions that will help us move forward.”

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we couldn’t agree more. While sustainability is an important aspect to maintaining the overall health of any college or university campus, it must be at the efforts of the entire community – from faculty to students, from parents to shareholders. While solutions such as solar panels and water-efficient appliances serve an important role in decreasing environmental impact, they are not always so easy on a university’s wallet – campus decision makers must also incorporate more cost-effective solutions, like energy-efficient lighting, campus biking systems, and furniture refinishing projects.

By implementing a wide-range of sustainable solutions, not only do we secure the future of our environment, but we also combat the budget problems that plague most of our nations universities.

Throughout my 24 years of working in hospitality, I’ve seen the industry persevere through many obstacles by changing its key practices and overall approach, and most recently, ultimately overcoming the aftermath of the 2008 recession.

Even today, as general manager of Hampton Inn Batesville, a position I’ve held for nearly 16 years, I am still witnessing the gradual upturn in business. During the last half of 2012, I’ve seen more leisure traffic than in many years’ past, with more people wanting to venture farther away from home as the economy slowly recovers.

This increase in business has also fueled a fundamental shift in business practices – moving more towards finding ways to satisfy the consumer’s needs, while remaining conscious of bottom line. One business practice in particular that we’ve begun implementing is sustainability – a venture that comes with many benefits, including appealing to green lodgers, preserving the environment and saving on costs.

An example of these benefits came into play when The Refinishing Touch completed a large-scale refinishing project at our Batesville location. At the time, we were looking for a solution to preserve our locally purchased case goods. We didn’t want to replace them, since they’re well liked amongst our guests and staff, and are very high-quality assets. After hearing positive feedback from a Hampton Inn corporate representative (whom The Refinishing Touch has worked with before), I was convinced – furniture asset management was the right solution for our hotel.

The Refinishing Touch team restored numerous wardrobes, desks, nightstands and luggage benches in 80 of our guest bedrooms, back to their original, like-new condition. Scratches and common wear were erased, all in a quick and seamless process. One of the best aspects of working with The Refinishing Touch was the fast on-site refinishing process, which helped us avoid completely shutting down the establishment. The production team was very conscious of our business operations, and when a block of rooms were occupied, they would only renovate them as they became vacant.

By investing in The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services, we saved thousands of dollars, or about 80 percent in budget costs. Our case goods look new again, and we continue to receive positive feedback from guests and staff members alike. Not only did we save money, but we also saved an estimated 90 percent in carbon emissions, when compared to buying new furniture – helping reduce negative impact on the environment.

And Hampton Inn Batesville’s green initiatives do not stop there. We offer a towel and linen reuse program and have installed water aerators on our faucets, reducing water consumption. The free daily breakfast bar is equipped with ‘Enviroware’ plastic ware, a product that is easily compostable. We have also changed our light bulbs to become more energy efficient and provide recycling bins throughout the hotel.

If you are ever in Southeastern Indiana, why not book a stay at Hampton Inn Batesville and discover a balance of luxury, comfort and sustainability. We are conveniently located between Cincinnati and Indianapolis, right near golf courses, parks and water ways. To reserve your room today, visit our website.

The majority of small business owners are taking steps to commit to sustainable, clean energy initiatives reveals scientific opinion polling out of Colorado. Polls surveyed small business owners in Colorado following the announcement that the U.S. government has set aside more than 285,000 acres in six states – Colorado, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah – for solar energy projects.

On the heels of that announcement, three fourths of Colorado small business owners agreed that government commitment and investment in renewable, sustainable energy and energy efficiency are pivotal in supporting the recovering economy and in the creation of new jobs.

Many small business owners have already implemented their own clean energy projects, with 61 percent reporting that they have installed energy efficient light bulbs, appliances, windows, insulation and energy-saving heating and air conditioning systems.

At The Refinishing Touch, we do our part through the offering of sustainable furniture asset management services, which include refinishing, reupholstering, remanufacturing and restoration. Already, we’ve contributed to a three-ton reduction in carbon emissions, and at the same time saved our clients more than 80 percent in costs.

Choosing renewable business practices not only benefits the environment, but it also redirects expenditures to allow business owners to invest in growth initiatives, rather than the costs of replacing an entire collection of worn furniture, for example.

For more information on how The Refinishing Touch’s services can be a part of your own renewable business strategy, visit our website at www.therefinishingtouch.com.

As the sustainability movement continues to strength across the hospitality, government and higher education industries, many are now focused on how to successfully mix both environmentally-consciousness and aesthetics. Recently, particularly at hotels where style is key, the concept of ‘eco-chic’ is traditionally a trend that is shied away from, assuming there’s a large price tag that accompanies such a name. But here at The Refinishing Touch, our goal is to provide tailored furniture asset management services to help hotel operators realize that not only is ‘eco-chic’ attainable, but it is also affordable.

Now more than ever, hotels have a countless number of sustainable and stylish renovation options that don’t break the bank. Some of the options that have captured even the most upscale lodger’s attention include the following:

– Refinishing furniture with updated finishcolors and hardware for a new, contemporary look, without the environmental waste or the financial burden

– Reupholstering pieces such as dining chairs, sofas and arm chairs, with fashionable fabrics and textiles

According to a recent article in Hotel Interactive, hotel chains that utilized some of these renovation alternatives spent $15,000 to $20,000 per room in costs, but in return, boosted rates from $75 per room to $225 room. As it turns out, hotels can please guests and Mother Nature at the same time, all while capitalizing on profit.

As providers of on-site sustainable furniture asset management services, we continue to make the goal of becoming ‘eco-chic’ more achievable than ever, benefitting both the guests and the hotel owners.

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we believe sustainability is a crucial step towards a better tomorrow and should be embraced by individuals and industries alike. So when we read a blog post yesterday and discovered that more than 36 percent of federal employees said they don’t have enough resources for sustainability programs at their agency, we were stunned.

According to the post in The Federal Times, over half of federal employees said their agency couldn’t act on sustainability efforts because focus was placed on short-term goals, rather than more rewarding, long-term objectives. In the survey conducted by LMI, a nonprofit organization that helped develop greenhouse gas reporting protocols, over half of respondents admitted that short-term tasks, such as construction and budgeting, were taking up more time than goals such as energy efficiency and sustainability.

The survey, which aimed to quantify President Obama’s executive order that requires federal agencies to reduce greenhouse gases by 28 percent by 2020, also produced these statistics:

– 34% said sustainability was fully or mostly integrated into procedures
– 51% said sustainability was only somewhat integrated
– 14% said sustainability integration was slight or non-existent
– 17% said sustainability was fully or mostly integrated into the budget process

While the survey reveals some short falls within federal agencies, we are optimistic that the statistics also prove we are headed in the right direction. Sustainability, especially in government, is not a quick-fix, but with dedication, commitment and forward-thinking, our country is sure to continue leading the way in sustainability and environmental-friendliness.

Ground Systems Power and Energy Laboratory interim director, Jennifer Hitchcock, pointed to the increased armor on army vehicles as a major contributor to increased fuel use saying, “We need to find a balance between mobility and survivability.” This is especially true as fuel convoys have become increase targets for attack on the battlefield.

As a furniture refinishing and refurbishing company that has worked with the Federal Government since 1998, we understand the importance of decreasing environmental impact and we support its goals to obtain that. Sustainable initiatives, such as the new research laboratory, are steps in the right direction and we hope a greener U.S. military and Federal Government is created.